U.S. Trying to Criminalize Free Speech - Again

The law already prohibits violence and threats of violence, and law enforcement authorities are supposed to prosecute those -- intimidation, destruction, damage, vandalism, simple and aggravated assault. What "hate crimes" are not already covered by the law?

Why would the House of Representatives find it necessary to make such redundant statements, if not in order to redefine the concept of a hate crime? Perhaps by including "hate speech"? The current resolution includes most of the major ethnic and religious minorities in the United States, so it will have a far better chance of passing, as it will more easily fool Representatives into thinking that the contents of the resolution are harmless.

Would it not be appropriate for the politicians sponsoring and voting for these resolutions first of all to find out what drives the organizations responsible for drafting them? The Investigative Project on Terrorism has authored a damning 88-page report about the Muslim Public Affairs Council. American politicians do not seem to have taken much interest in it.

On April 4, 2017, the US Senate passed Senate Resolution 118, "Condemning hate crime and any other form of racism, religious or ethnic bias, discrimination, incitement to violence, or animus targeting a minority in the United States". The resolution was drafted by a Muslim organization, EmgageUSA (formerly EmergeUSA) and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). On April 6, 2017, EmgageUSA wrote the following on their Facebook page:

"Thanks to the hard work of Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Susan Collins and Senator Kamala Harris we have achieved the approval of Senate Resolution 118, an anti-hate crimes bill drafted by Emerge-USA. It is days like this that Americans are reminded of this country's founding principles: equal opportunity, freedom, justice. We are proud to help support the protection of these rights #amoreperfectunion #theamericandream".

Senate Resolution 118 calls on

"...Federal law enforcement officials, working with State and local officials... to expeditiously investigate all credible reports of hate crimes and incidents and threats against minorities in the United States and to hold the perpetrators of those crimes, incidents, or threats accountable and bring the perpetrators to justice; encourages the Department of Justice and other Federal agencies to work to improve the reporting of hate crimes; and... encourages the development of an interagency task force led by the Attorney General to collaborate on the development of effective strategies and efforts to detect and deter hate crime in order to protect minority communities..."

The resolution refers to hate crimes against Muslims, Jews, African-Americans, Hindus, and Sikhs and was sponsored by Senator Kamala Harris and co-sponsored by Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Dianne Feinstein, and Senator Susan Collins.

On April 6, almost the exact same text was introduced as House Resolution H.Res. 257, "Condemning hate crime and any other form of racism, religious or ethnic bias, discrimination, incitement to violence, or animus targeting a minority in the United States". A House Resolution can be reintroduced as legislation.

H.Res. 257 urges

"...the development of an interagency task force led by the Attorney General and bringing together the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Education, the Department of State, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to collaborate on the development of effective strategies and efforts to detect and deter hate crime in order to protect minority communities". The House Resolution was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary on April 6 and from there it was referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations on April 21.

Americans should be concerned about these resolutions, especially the part of the House Resolution, which urges the establishment of an "interagency task force led by the Attorney General ... on the development of effective strategies and efforts to detect and deter hate crime in order to protect minority communities."

The United States Capitol building. (Image source: aoc.gov)

What is a hate crime in this context? The law already prohibits violence and threats of violence, and law enforcement authorities are supposed to prosecute those -- intimidation, destruction, damage, vandalism, simple and aggravated assault. What do "strategies and efforts to detect and deter hate crime" entail, and again, what "hate crimes" are not already covered by the law? In other words, why would the House of Representatives find it necessary to make such redundant statements, if not in order to redefine the concept of a hate crime? Perhaps by including "hate speech"?

The US has been in a similar situation before. In December 2015, House Resolution H.Res. 569 "Condemning violence, bigotry, and hateful rhetoric towards Muslims in the United States" was introduced. That resolution never went any farther, but it was problematic: it favored Muslims over everyone else. The current resolution includes most of the major ethnic and religious minorities in the United States, so it will have a far better chance of passing, as it will more easily fool Representatives into thinking that the contents of the resolution are harmless.

The drafters of Senate Resolution 118 and House Resolution 257, are two Muslim organizations, EmgageUSA (formerly known as EmergeUSA) and the Muslim Public Affairs Council. This is what EmgageUSA published on its website on April 6, 2017:

"We are excited to report that EmergeUSA and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) worked with Senator Kamala Harris to introduce Senate Resolution #118, which was passed unanimously today. The historic resolution is the first of its kind to condemn hate crimes and other forms of racism. The hate crimes extend beyond targeting just Muslim and Jewish Americans to also include religious minorities such as Hindu and Sikh Americans... EmergeUSA is committed to engaging, and empowering the Muslim American community via the political process by working towards making federal and state legislation and policies more equitable for the Muslim American community".

EmgageUSA goes on to tell its members to thank senator Kamala Harris and her co-sponsors, as well as to urge their congressmen to support "similar resolutions" when they come up, and to also urge their local representatives to adopt such resolutions. In other words, this campaign is to be a nationwide effort.

In a blog post in The Hill, Chief Executive Officer of EmgageUSA, Wa'el Alzayat, wrote:

"On April 5, the Senate unanimously adopted Resolution 118... As a Muslim American, I am grateful for this welcome gesture to help address the troubling rise in hate crimes against immigrants and ethnic and religious minorities... The Muslim American community has been on the receiving end of a long-running campaign of Islamophobia that pre-dates the current political climate... Senate Resolution 118 is a welcome and necessary step from our national leaders, but much more needs to be done; not only by our government, but also by average citizens, especially Muslim Americans..."

"Representative Barbara Comstock, second term Republican from Virginia's 10th District is teaming up with EmergeUSA and MPAC to successfully pass a House Resolution which condemns ethnic, religious and racial hate crimes. The bi-partisan resolution was co-sponsored by Representatives Dingell, Taylor and Curbelo and mirrors its Senate Counterpart, S. Res. 118... The Resolution is now in the House and we need you to help pass it. Take action and contact your Representatives today and urge them to sign on to pass this resolution".

Would it not be appropriate for the politicians sponsoring and voting for these resolutions first of all to find out what drives the organizations responsible for drafting them?

"...develop[ing] the capacity of the Muslim voter to ensure that our narrative is part of the American fabric. Our programs include civic educational events such as issue forums and town halls, voter initiatives including Get Out The Vote (GOTV), and specific programs for the youth in order to mentor and support the next generation of leaders".

The co-founder of EmgageUSA (founded in 2006 as EmergeUSA), Khurrum Wahid, a South Florida attorney, is the organization's National Board Co-Chair. In a 2011 interview with The Intelligence Report, the magazine of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Wahid listed the numerous cases in which he has represented terrorists, including members of Al Qaeda, such as Omar Ahmed Abu Ali, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2006 for joining al-Qaeda and plotting to assassinate President George W. Bush, Shahawar Matin Siraj, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2007 for conspiring to plant bombs in New York City; Dr. Rafiq Sabir, who was convicted of conspiring to treat injured al-Qaeda fighters and was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2007; Syed Hashmi, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2010 for providing supplies and money to a senior al-Qaeda commander in Afghanistan. He also represented Hafiz Khan, who was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison in 2013 for funneling tens of thousands of dollars to the Pakistani Taliban.

Khurrum Wahid appears to have a positive view of the terrorists he has represented, despite their proven guilt. According to a 2012 interview with Miami New Times:

He [Wahid] believes terrorism cases are, in many ways, the civil rights battles of his generation. While outsiders might paint his clients as criminals, he says people... are being prosecuted for giving money to groups the U.S. government doesn't like. "I think these things are not so black-and-white... I think innocent people get caught up in the politics."

In 2011, Wahid himself was put on a terror list. Asked by the Miami New Times about this fact Wahid said, "It tells me that the system is broken."

Khurrum Wahid is a former board member of the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). CAIR has repeatedly been identified as a Muslim Brotherhood front group.

EmgageUSA has hosted Islamic lecturer Sayed Ammar Nakshawani repeatedly at its yearly events. Nakshawani, has called for the destruction of Israel, saying "It is barbaric that this Zionist state is allowed to continue".

EmergeUSA has collaborated with the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) to "engage American Muslims" in last year's elections. Like CAIR, ISNA was one of the unindicted co-conspirators of the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) named by the US government in the HLF, with offenses including conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, namely, Hamas.

"Far from being the zealous champion of civil rights that it presents itself to be, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) has followed a consistent pattern of defending designated terrorist organizations and their supporters, opposing U.S. counterterrorism efforts and spouting anti-Semitic rhetoric".

The Investigative Project on Terrorism has authored a damning 88-page report about MPAC. American politicians do not seem to have taken much interest in it.

The question that all Americans ought to ask their representatives is this: Why do they let themselves be duped by policy initiatives driven by terrorist sympathizers and activists associated with Muslim Brotherhood front groups?

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41 Reader Comments

Jessie Abraham • Jul 14, 2017 at 23:41

I am appalled at all the subtle ways the American people are falling into hate speech propaganda as a means to promote one religion in this country. We need this country to respect all religions and people and not give special rights to those who would cry hate speech at a difference of opinion. WHERE are the founders of the constitution and the citizens? This current climate of oppression and silencing of opposition against any varying view must stop. This bill is one step closer to communism or fascism. See Nazi Germany in 1933. The NAZi party was doing the same stuff in trying to silence all voices but their own.

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Elizabeth Lawson • Jul 14, 2017 at 12:00

Ms. Bergman should be applauded for drawing attention to the dangerous culture of neglect and subversion in Washington political circles regarding our cherished freedoms. Free speech is undeniably under attack - in the US and across the globe. It is not under attack in Arab, Muslim countries - rather, since the elevation of madman Mohammed, free speech ceased to exist - if indeed it ever was present in those lands.

It has been puzzling and bewildering to observe the successes of Muslin activists in the West - while we Westerners continue to be targeted for death, destruction and disempowerment, by their useful converts, and from among our own people. Surely, if a virulent disease wipes out whole ( selected) segments of a society in country after country, we need to ask why? Why do some from these environments survive, and others not? Diseases of the mind are indeed selective- in the case of totalitarianism, only those who hewed to the ideology of the masters were spared,the remainder were deemed unfit to live.

A cursory look at how Muslim countries function, should enlighten even the most ardent leftist to the notion that such governance offers only one guarantee to objectors: death, hopefully ( but not guaranteed) painless death. A quick examination of any history text by the curious on the subject of Islamic conduct and success across the world, would reveal all the unpalatable horrors that so many of our politicians, public officials, mouthpieces for Islamic dominance, and the public at large, do not wish to speak about. Can it be that, excepting Islamic ideologues, our 'educated' ( and educational institutions) and professional servants of the state are willingly and willfully blind to the terrifying threat of the marriage of the Left and Islam, and what it represents to the future of democracy and the freedoms that we cherish?

We should all congratulate ourselves that we have transformed excellent educational facilities, into bastions of lunatic 'education'. Better to keep the chattering masses engaged in dialogue fixated on issues of gender, race, etc. than on existential threats to the clear and present danger to our freedoms.

It is baffling that any reasonably intelligent human being would continue use to ignore the threat of Islam, (and their handmaidens on the left), when every day we read of yet more and greater atrocities fomented by them across the world. Indeed, there is not one country in which Muslims reside that is not in flames; yet, we facilitate Muslim mouthpieces to 'educate' our foolish citizens to the joys of Islam. Have we all gone mad and taken leave of our senses? Who can deny the atrocities carried out by Muslim citizens against those who differ from them in Muslim countries? Who can deny the sad truth of all the lost lives of Jews, Christians, Yazidis, and innocent people all across the world at the hands of Muslims? If we fail to deal with this dreadful reality, we really deserve to suffer the consequences.

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b.a. freeman • Jul 6, 2017 at 12:03

the dangers of the deadly mental disease of islam have nothing to do with beliefs of either those on the left or the right; rather, they have to do with the survival of civilization itself. the left won the war for education long ago, and it shows. most politicians - in *every* western country - do not bother to gain even a passing understanding of islam or its history. were they dependent upon themselves alone, a lack of time might explain the continued ignorance; it could also be due to sheer laziness, as it was in my own case, but laziness of an elected official (or a bureaucrat,for that matter) should be grounds for dismissal. the State always puts extra resources at the disposal of those running the government, so that a simple order to a subordinate should suffice to produce as detailed a report as desired. of course, not all bureaucrats have the authority to order a possibly expensive report, but at some level of every republic, there is such authority. those filling such posts have completely failed.

at one time - in the 1960s, perhaps - it could have been more strongly argued by the left that there was no reason for such a study because islam presented no danger. at the time, it could still have been argued by rational people that islam is dangerous, but the "islam is safe" argument would have been a more difficult argument to refute. at what level of peril should government hacks begin to take notice of the death and mayhem in the streets? does it not appear strange to any functionary anywhere that almost every attack by a "mentally ill" person deliberately killing innocents is done by muslims? should that not engender enough concern to make somebody ask what it is about muslims that makes them so susceptible to mental illness? and if it's just a misinterpretation of a peaceful religion, what is it about muslims that makes so many of them misinterpret their own faith?

of course, the left has a ready answer in its bulls**t post-colonial theories, in which these "unfortunates" are merely acting out because of the impositions upon them by our racist white governments and majority racist white populations. it seems to have escaped the notice of american leftists, at least, that were racism as widespread as they say, then dr. m. l. king was an utter and abject failure, not to mention the failure of 50 years of anti-racism legislation sponsored by leftist legislators (maybe they were racists, too!). since eurabian elites have fancied themselves as the moral betters of and as more intelligent than crass americans, their society began its descent into insanity even earlier than society in the western hemisphere; thus, eurabian elites have failed even more abjectly to address their white racism. perhaps that is why they wish to destroy their civilization and be killed themselves: they wish to atone for their racism.

all this begs the question of why *no* governments *anywhere* (except in eastern europe, which might survive without internal assault, but will almost certainly be assaulted from without by muslim hordes Yet Again) are looking into the scriptures of islam and the beliefs of muslims. it is simply statistically not possible that nobody has any knowledge of islam, and it also not possible that so many well-educated elites are completely ignorant of it. so why would they do such a thing to us? i believe that one must start by looking at the history of how the left operates. in general, there is a secretive inner circle calling the shots, surrounded by rings of people with less and less knowledge of goals as one goes out from the center. in other words, the left has "thought leaders" who set the direction and specific goals, of which the ultimate goal is always ultimate authority, since only the inner circle is smart enough to run things. these thought leaders also make sure to excommunicate those in outer circles who hold aberrant beliefs, so that all toe the Party Line; although it would appear to be a weak enforcement, such shunning is in fact a powerful social tool, as nobody wishes to say or do something that repulses ones friends and associates.

a republic or a democracy is anathema to a hard-core leftist, because the stupid stinking masses, who are not much more self-controlled than children, and who are uneducated at best and stupid in general, are in control of the State. this control must be wrested from them in order for smart people to take control. since every attempt to do so legally in every republic has failed at the polls, there is little sense trying to win elections with an honest platform. instead, the left took over education institutions; they have controlled education in every western republic for decades. nowadays, most young adults graduating from any level of education are nominal leftists, because they have been exposed to these toxic beliefs since early childhood, and have never been taught critical thinking. those who vote in elections tend to elect leftists, so that most governments in most republics are controlled by leftists.

the thought leaders of the left are now able to use their social tools on non-leftists as well, since at least half (and often more) of the population is left-leaning. being politically correct was a joke 25 or 30 years ago, but it is no longer a joke; in eurabia, people lose their jobs, they are fined, and they are imprisoned for speaking the truth about islam - as presented in its scriptures. in the u.s., we have guaranteed freedom of speech, so there is slightly less danger presented by the criminal thugs of islam, but the degree is slight. the last federal administration, in true alinskyite fashion, violated the law at every turn, pushing the envelope of the constitution, held their opponents to the letter of the law, and got away with it. given all that the left has accomplished in the u.s., what makes anybody here think that they will not succeed in establishing a leftist dictatorship? of course, i believe that it will be followed in quick succession by an islamic dictatorship, since it will be hard for those promoting "safe spaces" to turn the military and police forces to indiscriminate killing of muslim civilians, while the groundwork for indiscriminate slaughter is laid early in childhood for muslims.

my money is on the muslims, as will likely be the majority of my armament before they kill me.

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Catherine L Dohs • Jul 1, 2017 at 11:43

I am stunned at the lack of public discussion about this. From left to right I have heard nothing. Must we blindly repeat Europe's mistakes?Europeans are becoming a new type of refugee. If they can they move to the country to get away from the violence and intimidation in their cities or they immigrate. Our beloved country, with all its imperfections has been the chosen destination by refuges and immigrants. Some of our new citizens are alarmed to see what they thought they left behind occurring here.

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Alison • Jun 21, 2017 at 16:00

How do we keep both these bills from becoming laws? They are blasphemy laws and incredibly dangerous. Help.

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gingersnap_ Alison • Jul 8, 2017 at 10:35

the supreme court will rise up to the occasion here...it has fought against these types of laws in the past but it's unfortunate that it's put to the test at such a high level...this should be just common sense and is against the 1st amendment. Rubio shouldn't hold public office after this major blunder...I really question if he isn't an agent of Castro at this point.

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Mike • Jun 21, 2017 at 12:21

Marco Rubio, eh?

Here's the thing: if free speech collapses in the USA, the rest of us are done too.It's free speech in the USA that keeps it alive everywhere else, make no mistake.

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Maria Alice Maranhão • Jun 21, 2017 at 08:26

!!! Americans are way ahead of the other nations !!! Their superiority, generosity, and extreme sense of responsibility in relation to them, contribute in complicating their situation, helping create two antagonic feelings_:_Admiration and envy !!! Only intelligence can solve these conflicts through Law & Order !!! USA must avoid using their Heart_( Their main fragility ) !!!

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neversink • Jun 21, 2017 at 03:18

Hate speech. Only the hate speech that the government wants to enforce will be enforced. In other words, say anything against Islam, even if it is true, and you will go to jail. If you are Muslim though, you can say any hateful words about anyone and probably get away with it.

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Sgt Dad neversink • Jun 21, 2017 at 18:32

Justice Alito has put paid to this notion earlier this week: " It offends a bedrock First Amendment principle: Speech may not be banned on the ground that it expresses ideas that offend."

The Gov't may yet seek to ban speech. But that will just make you rich.

I hope Prof. Dershowitz writes on this point.

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Ngaio • Jun 20, 2017 at 23:32

"Condemning hate crime and any other form of racism, religious or ethnic bias, discrimination, incitement to violence, or animus targeting a minority in the United States". What? The US Senate is suffering from severe tunnel vision by condoning any of these these negatives to be done to or expressed against those who are not a minority. However, Senate Resolution 118 is forward-looking; that is, to the time when those who are not a minority now are the minority in the future. To govern is to foresee! I'd say, to the majority of now of the US, enjoy the sanctioned hate crime done to you while you can.

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Warmac9999 • Jun 20, 2017 at 21:00

Hate crimes are in the eye of the beholder. Thus, they are both subjective and dangerous. Outright threats and acts of intimidation and violence have always had crimes associated with them. Hate speech crime needs to be eliminated or we will end up with the banning of conservative speech as is the case in Europe and far too many American campuses.

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Laura • Jun 20, 2017 at 18:45

Partnering with Kamala Harris, Marco? You continue to show poor judgment in your decisions about who to "work" with; first the "gang of 8" and McStain, now Harris. You will regret it. Crimes against ALL people are "hate" crimes - and a phobia is an IRRATIONAL fear of something - When someone declares they want to kill you, THAT isn't an irrational fear!

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Podargus • Jun 20, 2017 at 14:40

Censorship of what people say or write is a defining element of totalitarian systems. It appears that there are numerous members of the governing class and their stupid and ignorant supporters who want to go down that road. There are various motives and agendas at work here which can be summed up in one word - control. It is not just about religion/ideology and terrorism. Ms Bergman would do well to use her skills to expose the bigger picture.

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vivian • Jun 20, 2017 at 14:19

When are the American people going to realize that we are under attack? The Muslims are not going to blend in with American ways as our immigrants from Europe. They want to enslave us and steal our freedoms and liberties. If they cannot accept our American laws, rules and ways. They should leave.. America, home of the free and brave.

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Warren Pugh • Jun 20, 2017 at 13:33

Please notice that 257 and 118 say nothing about LGBT. These politicians are idiots. Susan Collins once had a brain in her head. Term limits please.

Warren Pugh

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Thomas Pratt • Jun 20, 2017 at 13:28

Ask yourself why the government is so concerned about protecting Muslims over any other faith?

It is their faith that promotes anger and hatred towards; Christians; Jews; women; atheists. Sharia law has no tollerance for Federal Law & both the Canadian & American Constitutions?

They think slavery is okay! They promote the stoning of their women. They practice female genital mutilation! They believe that women are property and subservient to their husbands.

Again, I ask why are they protected and the rest of us vilified?

Why is it alright for an Iman to preach hatred toward Christians and Jews, but not alright for us non Muslims to question or critical of their beliefs?

I agree, the Muslim should have equal rights and they do under our constitution, but why do they get special right over all other people?

Could it be that the Globalists are using the Islamists to take away our freedom & subjugate us so the UN can form dictatorships in the free world?

If so, these Marxists Globalists are the biblical equivalent of the Whore of Babylon. They ride the beast; feed the beast; protect the beast and love the beast. The beast will eventually turn on the whore and devour them. The Globalist leaders shall not rule, the Beast Shall!

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Sgt Dad • Jun 20, 2017 at 12:54

Can we hope the language by Justice Alito in "Lee v. Tam" will provide a tool to deconstruct this Orwellian villainy?

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ambi Sgt Dad • Jun 21, 2017 at 08:33

It's very simple, MONEY !!!! If oil was never found in the Middle East there would not be an Islamic treat to the West today- aided and abetted by greedy globalist Western politicians. The Middle East would have remained a primitive society ruled by war lords as in Medieval Europe, Japan and China.

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Sgt Dad ambi • Jun 21, 2017 at 18:24

Well and truly said. To that end, now that fracking has brought the price of oil below the OPEC needs, perhaps we can rein them in.

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grampa • Jun 20, 2017 at 12:43

Another chip off the foundation of freedom. changing a word or definition and including and widening meanings of words do little to protect. what is done is expand power and control over the citizen, include and exclude groups of citizens. in the end only causing more division. divide and concur. government has been doing this for the last few centuries we now see them pick up the pace with the event of better media coverage and decline of the moral values our press had in the beginningGrampa

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Don • Jun 20, 2017 at 12:20

And then, when the law is passed and signed, We The People can look forward to millions of dollars being spent by the government in its defense, only to have it reach the Supreme Court and be struck down as an unconstitutional infringement of our First Amendment rights. Why do they waste our tax dollars on such ridiculous matters?!

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Sandra Gray • Jun 20, 2017 at 12:20

What can we do about it? What is an effective line to refute this?

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Sharon Downs Sandra Gray • Jun 24, 2017 at 03:26

If Khurrum Wahid is a former board member of the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which has repeatedly been identified as a Muslim Brotherhood front group, then revoke his citizenship and deport him he is a terrorist.

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Hans Lembøl • Jun 20, 2017 at 12:19

How lucky that we white people who belong to a Christian denomination or who are atheists, exist. Without us there would be nobody left to criticize, offend, denigrate or otherwise speak hateful about.

I come to think of an joke from Soviet times. An American and a Russian meet in Moscow and start discussing freedom of speech. The American tells the Russian, that in the USA, he can walk right up to the president and tell him what he thinks about him. That's freedom of speech.The Russian answers: "It is exactly the same in Russia. I can walk right up to Stalin and tell him what I think of the American president."

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George McAdoo • Jun 20, 2017 at 12:10

Another case of Americans giving an inch, while those who insist they are "victims" and minorities take a mile. Congress is opening new avenues to the wallets of taxpayers so Congress can waste more money on fantasy investigations instead of our security. If anyone with sense were in charge, the obvious fact that White people and Christians of all skin color are the true minority in the world, yet attacks on us are all but completely ignored.

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Pat Walker • Jun 20, 2017 at 11:45

All laws enacted against hate crimes should be aimed at protecting EVERY human being on this planet, regardless of race, ethnicity or religion. Why should any bill have to be passed to protect from hate crimes certain eastern religions or why should any specifically have to say "minority"? Only one bill is necessary to cover every human being. And that includes all mainstream religions as well as all Caucasians.

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Norbert Kausen • Jun 20, 2017 at 10:00

It is exactly the same thing as is happening in Canada, Europe and Great Britain! This is a globalist agenda, implemented to subjugate the citizens of these countries! This, along with countries like Canada, turning over some of their law-making to the UN, the unification, so to speak, of European countries, under the EU banner, whereby the people no longer have self determination but are no forced to dependency on an non-elected totalitarian bureaucracy which does NOT have the interests of the individual countries at heart and demands huge taxes for which the people paying these taxes get nothing of benefit, the dictatorial attitudes of western governments towards their citizens, with regard to migrants... are all steps being implemented to initiate a one world government... a one world totalitarian dictatorship, designed to subjugate ALL citizens, destroy the sovereignty of their/our nations and enslave them/us. The IMF is the international financial body which now controls finance on a global scale... and owns ALL the banks! They do NOT want us to speak out against their nefarious agenda, hence they remove our very rights and freedoms!

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Kesselman • Jun 20, 2017 at 09:31

For too long CAIR and their affiliates has been tolerated. This umbrella organization is constantly multiplying itself with countless so-called non-profit branches all over North America. They all have one single goal, weaken the government and its law enforcement. CAIR et al. engage in all criminal activities such as money laundering (monetary transfers between terror groups), burglaries (weapon depots), store away difficult persons. Add to this deception on a large scale lobbying into the corridors of power. Hillary Clinton's plant, Huma Abedin, serves as a good example.

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Le Hunt • Jun 20, 2017 at 09:02

They can kiss my behind if they think they are going to curtail what I have to say about anyone or anything.

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Daniel Andrew Stevenson • Jun 20, 2017 at 08:26

I am deeply disturbed by these politicians who think they can do what they want without advising the electorate of their intentions. It is and will be the worst decision against free speech and a bowing down to Muslim demands over American interests. I am really disappointed in the land of the free and the brave.

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Jeff Page • Jun 20, 2017 at 08:19

Just as soon as the authorities close down free speech, the thought policing will begin! The only people allowed freedom of speech will be Muslims.

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JERRY A JANSEN • Jun 20, 2017 at 08:10

This is just another way of instituting UN Resolution 16/18 to prevent negative speech about islam. Hillary Clinton tried to do this while SoS teaming up with the OIC at the UN. If this goes thru it won't be some kind on unbinding UN treaty or resolution, it will be mainstream US law.

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Joe • Jun 20, 2017 at 07:53

Thank you for the great article. So, is it hate speech if I change two words in an article to reflect an actual truth? Or do we have to allow subversive groups and individuals to promulgate their lies without rebuttal? As I was reading the article, I mentally changed two words from quotes in order to more accurately reflect where the lies have been leading us and will continue to lead us if left unchecked. I lined through two words from the article and added replacement words in italics (hoping that they format properly on this platform). The formatting did not work properly but my words replace the last word of each of the two paragraphs below. My suggestions appear outside the paragraph quotation marks.

EmgageUSA likes to describe itself as a civil rights style organization, "non-partisan" with the innocent sounding purpose of:"...develop[ing] the capacity of the Muslim voter to ensure that our narrative is part of the American fabric. Our programs include civic educational events such as issue forums and town halls, voter initiatives including Get Out The Vote (GOTV), and specific programs for the youth in order to mentor and support the next generation of leaders." Strike "leaders" and insert "terrorists."

He [Wahid] believes terrorism cases are, in many ways, the civil rights battles of his generation. While outsiders might paint his clients as criminals, he says people... are being prosecuted for giving money to groups the U.S. government doesn't like. "I think these things are not so black-and-white... I think innocent people get caught up in the politics." Strike "politics" and insert "bombs."

The people quoted did not say what they actually mean, but I believe that I understand. So is this hate speech if I defy the guy who is so loving and compassionate and pardoning of the actions of those who have been found guilty of terror? Our legislators are asleep at the helm. We really need them to wake up!! We need to have a conversation about people coming here legally and otherwise who want multiple wives and numerous children which the taxpayer must support. We give them everything, at tremendous expense and they want to have their own laws at our expense, and then even if they have been peaceful, if their religious leader in the Middle East tells them to enter the fight against the US, many will do so because it's their religious duty.

There ought to be a litmus test to gain entry to the US and remain here. If they cannot pledge allegiance, they need to go back home. Is it true that some refugees have been granted immediate citizenship without any way to follow up on them and then if they get into trouble they have all the benefits of being a US citizen? Our law makers need to have honest discussions about these issues without fear of being called haters or Islamophobes. But now, I fear that the legislation would have the effect of locking the mouths shut of those who are sworn to uphold our constitution and freedoms and at least ask questions. Are they totally naive or just scared like all the European governments?

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Richard G Byrne • Jun 20, 2017 at 07:39

These politicians are cowards who run for cover if they are ever accused of being racist or lacking in compassion for minorities including Muslims. If these efforts become law, what you think might be illegal. If you disparage a minority in any way, including writing an opinion piece which The State deems "hateful," it could land you in jail. Good bye First Amendment!

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John Davis • Jun 20, 2017 at 07:19

Maybe now every kid with a cell phone who feels victimized because someone didn't look at him the way he thought they should will be calling the hotline to make an anonymous report about some innocent soul whose look had nothing to do with the kid.

Bring on the "thought police" - Kafka's nightmare is now on steroids.

When will we ever learn that you cannot legislate morality? The soul of a nation does not grow out of force and coercion, but from something far more subtle and still. This timely report leads me to wonder if, when "they've all come to look for America," this is what they thought they would find?
Quite assuredly, it was a different picture they had in mind.

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Juanita Skelton • Jun 20, 2017 at 06:51

Thank you! I think people just don't dig deeply into the interconnectedness of these "civil liberties" groups. Their rhetoric is so very different from their actions in support of Islamic terrorists, and the "well-intentioned" tend to over-look the ultimate goal of terror which is to establish a Caliphate.

I am deeply grieved by the behavior in the Congress to silence Ms. Harris and others when they have to be allowed to investigate everything that suggests wrong doing. To learn that she is supportive of this particular resolution really makes my personal concerns for democratic across-the-aisle cohesion to be a double edged sword, so to speak.

I wish Judith Bergman would ask or interview CAIR, ENGAGEUSA and the signers of this resolution, how are they going to define "hate speech"?

If we are not careful, even our well meaning public servants are "serving" our enemies. It isn't just leftist liberals who are putting this nation in peril. People are unwise to attach a political label to this type of misalignment with agents of Islamic terrorists. Any one, myself included, could easily be duped by rhetoric that supports so much of what we hold dear. There are many "wolves in sheep's clothing". Discernment is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It seems separation of church and state has now become separation of church and FAITH!

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edward kent • Jun 20, 2017 at 06:19

With all of these so-called laws, they must obviously only work one way.

How do all these people get away with their ongoing open death threats against Trump?

Why is it ok to spew such obviously racist and hate fuelled vitriol at him?

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marlene edward kent • Jun 21, 2017 at 10:48

Because the Senate Resolution applies for the protection of minorities only. The rest of us are fair game for hate crimes and any other form of racism, religious or ethnic bias, discrimination, incitement to violence, or animus targeting. Again, only so-called 'minorities' will be protected. This is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional. This entire congress must be thrown out on their butts and an entirely new congress elected in 2018. Our lives, freedoms and liberties depend on it.

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Jack Rainbow • Jun 20, 2017 at 05:48

It's not the REPRESENTATIVES who are duped, although some of them might be unaware and others are far left closet Islamists. It's the ELECTORATE who need waking up. Does anyone have ideas about how to get them awake quickly? We have a year, maybe two, before western politicians and Islamist front organisations become so powerfully bound together, the democratic electorate more deeply asleep, the media under control of white Islamist hacks, that free passage of information and the nuts and bolts operation of democracy is no longer possible. These senate and house resolutions are very likely to become law. When they do, we will be past the point of no return. The west will in all but name have become the Caliphate. Islamists will influence and thus control the legislative process while the people sleep.

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Eric Rearden Jack Rainbow • Jun 22, 2017 at 15:59

People were arrested recently for burning 2 copies of the Koran. Others arrested and convicted of assault for leaving bacon at a Muslim house of worship and sentenced to prison. I imagine nobody in the last hundred years has been arrested for burning a Bible, but burn a Koran and the outcry is great. Unbelievably, local governments are caving in a little. Look how Europe is paying a heavy price for mass immigration from the Middle East and North Africa. Rapes of young girl's in the U.K. and media afraid to report it for fear of appearing Islamophobic. Grow a pair Europe! We will not bow to Islam here, despite political cowardess.